Elena Paraskevas-Thadani, Esq., AWI-CH

Workplace Investigation Expert Witness

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

I received my law degree from Fordham Law School, where I was a senior editor for the Urban Law Journal. While in law School I founded Fordham’s chapter of the Unemployment Action Center representing unemployment insurance claimants in DOL hearings, served as an intern for two federal judges in the Eastern District of New York, and as an intern in the United States attorney’s office criminal division. After graduation in 1997, I worked as a law clerk for a federal judge, The Honorable Nicholas Tsoucalas of the United States Court of International Trade, who also sat by designation on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and several district courts nationally during my clerkship from 1997-1999. After my clerkship, I worked as a litigation associate of commercial and employment matters with the Wall Street law firm Seward and Kissel from 1999-2000, until I was offered a second federal clerkship in the Southern District of New York with the Honorable Andrew J Peck from 2000 through 2002. In that capacity, I researched and drafted proposed opinions and reports and recommendations involving the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other matters that came before the Judge. I then joined Katten Muchin Rosenman, an Am Law 200 firm, as a senior associate from 2002-2005 where I litigated and advised clients on labor and employment matters and commercial disputes. Thereafter, in 2005, I joined Littler Mendelson, the largest management side labor and employment law firm in the world. I practiced at Littler for 10 years from 2005-2015, starting as an associate and reaching senior equity partnership status. I left Littler in 2015 to open up my own law practice, EPT Legal focusing exclusively on resolving workplace conflict by conducting investigations, training, mediation of employment, disputes, and executive coaching. During my career working with public entities, corporations, management, and employees, I’ve handled all facets of employment litigation and handled administrative proceedings before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and local agencies. My investigative experience spans diverse industries, including finance, technology, law enforcement, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and educational institutions (Title IX). I am a certified Title IX hearing officer and hold a Private Investigator license issued by the New York Department of State. I have advised on, conducted and supervised investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, misconduct, corporate theft, bullying, and executive wrongdoing. I have supervised and conducted over 250 workplace investigations and have taught lawyers and Human Resources professionals how to conduct investigations. I am admitted to practice in New York, Connecticut, Washington DC, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan, Texas, Georgia, and Florida, the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of New York, and the United States Supreme Court. I am certified as a mediator by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the New York Peace Institute. I actively serve on the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of New York’s mediation panels. I also conduct private mediations of employment disputes. I am a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, which is the highest recognition conveyed by senior peers who practice employment law, for my continued excellence in the profession, integrity, and commitment to workplace matters. I train on harassment, discrimination, retaliation, professional conduct, employment compliance, litigation avoidance, management skills, team building, diversity and inclusion, performance management, how to be an effective supervisor, how to conduct an investigation, and other related topics.